Seven vying for four Monitor Township trustee seats

There's no shortage of candidates trying to become a Monitor Township trustee, but residents must vote in the Aug. 5 primary if they want to choose the winners.

Seven Democrats seek four seats as trustees, with no Republicans or independent
candidates on the ballot. So the winners in the primary race stand to win the race following the general election in November.

The township's 8,538 registered voters can come to the polls Aug. 5 to decide the outcome.

"People need to know that - except for the supervisor race - if they want to vote to put someone in office in Monitor Township, they need to come to the polls Aug. 5," said Elaine M. Kochany, one of two incumbent trustees seeking re-election.

Two incumbent trustees - William A. Kramer and Marvin E. Neumeyer - are not seeking re-election.

Learn more about each candidate by reading on:

EARL E. ARNOLD

Age: 55

Address: 2780 Salzburg Road

Political background: Elected as Monitor Township trustee in 2004.

Professional experience: Farmer

Education: Graduate of T.L. Handy High School, earned certificate from United Electronics Institute in Grand Rapids.

Community involvement: Member of Monitor Township Fire Department since 1976.

Family: Married to Kay; son, Adam, 21; daughter, Alica, 16.

Quote: 'When you get involved with government, you have to cooperate with people. You gotta get them on your side or you gotta go on their side, or you don't get anywhere. And you gotta learn to have an open mind, because other people have good ideas, too.'

DAVID C. COZAD

Age: 51

Address: 2037 Briar Drive

Political background: None

Professional experience: Owner of environmental-consulting and marine-contracting business; former director of environmental affairs and community development for Bay County.

Education: Graduate of Bay City Central High School, earned bachelor's degree from Alma College and master's degree from Central Michigan University.

Community involvement: Member of Gypsy Moth Control Advisory Committee for Bay County; founding director of Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy; member of Friends of the State Theatre.

Family: Married to Kathy; son Kyle, 22; daughter Alyssa, 13.

Quote: 'In today's challenging economic times, it is of the utmost importance that the Monitor Township board make sound and fiscally responsible decisions in order to maintain our low operating millage.'

ELAINE M. KOCHANY

Age: 57

Address: 2914 Noreen Drive

Political background: Elected as Monitor Township trustee in 1992, re-elected in 1996, 2000 and 2004; lost race for Bay County commissioner in 1994.

Professional experience: Teacher's aide for Essexville-Hampton Public Schools.

Education: Graduate of St. James Catholic High School in Bay City.

Community involvement: Former member of committee overseeing Holy Trinity Catholic School; co-founder of Bay Area Saving the Environment (BASE) that fought to keep a waste-burning incinerator out of Monitor Township; helped set up volunteer recycling group in Monitor Township.

Quote: 'I'm running because I still care. I still am a taxpayer and that's why I ran the first time. I believe that if I feel certain things about issues, then other people are probably feeling the same thing.'

KENNETH M. MALKIN

Age: 58

Address: 4718 Willow Drive

Political background: Member of Bay City Public Schools Board of Education, 1995 to 2007; lost race for state representative in 2004; served as treasurer and trustee in Benton Township, Berrien County, in 1970s.

Education: Earned bachelor's degree from Michigan State University; earned Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Community involvement: Coach of mock trial team at Western High School and founder of school's mock trial program; treasurer for Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan; member of a subgroup helping the state House Judiciary Committee streamline the preliminary-examination process.

Family: Single; daughters Tracy, 29, and Jessica, 18.

Quote: 'I want to encourage a cooperative relationship among Monitor Township officials and I don't think that's been occurring, and I think a trustee is in a good position to encourage that.'

TERRY R. MILLER

Age: 62

Address: 4649 David Court

Political background: Lost race for Bay County commissioner in early 1970s.

Professional experience: Adjunct professor of history at Delta College; retired teacher in Saginaw City Public School District.

Community involvement: Member of Monitor Township Planning Commission since 2000; member of Board of Directors for BaySail; vice chairman of the Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of about 70 environmental organizations; co-founder of Lone Tree Council, a nonprofit environmental organization.

Quote: 'The future is going to be in energy ... and we need to explore some options. We have recycling in the township, but in what ways can we encourage more of it? Can individuals get paid with rebates for it on their bills, as they do in some communities?'

RICHARD C. PABALIS

Age: 55

Address: 5431 Christena Road

Political background: None

Professional experience: Superintendent of buildings and grounds for Bay County, former heating/air conditioning technician for Bay County.

Education: Graduate of Bay City Central High School.

Community involvement: Member of Michigan County Facilities Management Networking Group, Michigan Recreation and Park Association, and Refrigeration Service Engineers Society.

Family: Married to Tina; one adult stepson, Tony Szyperski, and one stepgrandson, Anthony Szyperski, 8.

Quote: 'My mission would be to make sure the people of Monitor Township get the most for their tax dollars. I've been watching county budgets for years and years. My budget in the Building and Grounds Department is huge, in excess of a million dollars - and I've lived within the budget.'

Quote: 'If I get elected, it's not like I'm going to walk in there green behind the gills. When it comes to trash pickup and paying for different types of insurance coverage, I want to shop around and get the best bang for our dollar.'

ON THE BALLOT:

Monitor Township residents will be asked to choose a supervisor in the Nov. 4 general election. Incumbent Gary A. Brandt, a Republican who lives at 3810 Three Mile Road, is running against Don Jacobs, a Democrat who lives at 4660 Willow Drive.